Debt reduction

Fourteen-trillion dollars in national debt, and nearly 60 trillion in unfunded entitlement obligations are products of left- and right-of-the-aisle conventional political thinking. This situation will not be resolved by a business-as-usual approach.

Representatives say solving this issue is so delicate that a solution must be considered by a 12-member committee. The Nov. 23, 2011, Super Committee agreement resolution will be a point of departure toward a compromise approach to reducing discretionary spending. Hopefully this will start a rational dialog on the national debt crisis.

The U.S. House and Senate then determine if the agreement resolution lives or dies in a straight up-or-down vote, with no opportunity for debate, discussion or filibuster. There is always hope this Super committee will save the day using some unconventional thinking and planning, and by their sagacity, get the USA back on track toward a balanced budget.

On the change side of the "Hope and Change" equation, because there is already too much money being spent on lobbying, it would help if everyone communicates with their Representatives and Senators, and asks them to chat with their Super Committee members to let them know they must stop taking money from special-interest groups, and to cut hard and deep to expunge this stain on American governance.

If the resolution does not pass in the House and Senate, then 10 percent across-the-board cuts take place in 2013; these automatic cuts will be equally divided between military and social services.

The future viability of our nation depends on this simple act of common sense.